Able to deal with complex issues with insight and enthusiasm. Cares about people, and tends to show it in gentle, unassuming ways. Enthusiastic and passionate about the possibilities of the visions they see.

INFJs are intuitive, caring, quiet and peace-loving: deep and complex people who may seem equally at home dealing with the personal and analytical spheres of life. The interior world of vision and ideas is this type’s most comfortable domain, but some degree of human connection is essential for the INFJ’s happiness; a potential conflict for this type. Articulate, empathetic and idealistic, INFJs often say they just know things, they know them directly, and they may not be able to tell you how or why! INFJs seem to be able to feel others’ feelings vicariously and sense the good and evil in situations: an almost psychic ability which may be an asset in many “people professions.” Spiritual, sensitive and committed, INFJs enjoy being of service to others. Once this type’s goals are set and the mind is made up, no argument based solely on reason and practicality is likely to divert the passionate INFJ from a mission or chosen project. Whether this characteristic manifests itself as admirable tenacity or bull-headed stubbornness may determine the individual INFJ’s potential for life success.

EXPLANATION BASED ON THE RESEARCH OF CARL JUNG, KATHARINE C. BRIGGS AND ISABEL BRIGGS MYERS

INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types.

INFJs place great importance on havings things orderly and systematic in their outer world. They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, INFJs put a tremendous amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions. This is something of a conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy desk.

INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get “feelings” about things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at, and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.

But the INFJ is as genuinely warm as they are complex. INFJs hold a special place in the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special gifts and depth of caring. INFJs are concerned for people’s feelings, and try to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone. They are very sensitive to conflict, and cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress.

Because the INFJ has such strong intuitive capabilities, they trust their own instincts above all else. This may result in an INFJ stubborness and tendency to ignore other people’s opinions. They believe that they’re right. On the other hand, INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential. INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves – there’s always something else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them. They believe in constant growth, and don’t often take time to revel in their accomplishments. They have strong value systems, and need to live their lives in accordance with what they feel is right. In deference to the Feeling aspect of their personalities, INFJs are in some ways gentle and easy going. Conversely, they have very high expectations of themselves, and frequently of their families. They don’t believe in compromising their ideals.

INFJ is a natural nurturer; patient, devoted and protective. They make loving parents and usually have strong bonds with their offspring. They have high expectations of their children, and push them to be the best that they can be. This can sometimes manifest itself in the INFJ being hard-nosed and stubborn. But generally, children of an INFJ get devoted and sincere parental guidance, combined with deep caring.

In the workplace, the INFJ usually shows up in areas where they can be creative and somewhat independent. They have a natural affinity for art, and many excel in the sciences, where they make use of their intuition. INFJs can also be found in service-oriented professions. They are not good at dealing with minutia or very detailed tasks. The INFJ will either avoid such things, or else go to the other extreme and become enveloped in the details to the extent that they can no longer see the big picture. An INFJ who has gone the route of becoming meticulous about details may be highly critical of other individuals who are not.

The INFJ individual is gifted in ways that other types are not. Life is not necessarily easy for the INFJ, but they are capable of great depth of feeling and personal achievement.

EXPLANATION BY JOE BUTT

Beneath the quiet exterior, INFJs hold deep convictions about the weightier matters of life. Those who are activists — INFJs gravitate toward such a role — are there for the cause, not for personal glory or political power.

INFJs are champions of the oppressed and downtrodden. They often are found in the wake of an emergency, rescuing those who are in acute distress. INFJs may fantasize about getting revenge on those who victimize the defenseless. The concept of ‘poetic justice’ is appealing to the INFJ.

“There’s something rotten in Denmark.” Accurately suspicious about others’ motives, INFJs are not easily led. These are the people that you can rarely fool any of the time. Though affable and sympathetic to most, INFJs are selective about their friends. Such a friendship is a symbiotic bond that transcends mere words.

INFJs have a knack for fluency in language and facility in communication. In addition, nonverbal sensitivity enables the INFJ to know and be known by others intimately.

Writing, counseling, public service and even politics are areas where INFJs frequently find their niche.

Oh ho. If I’m the most rare of all types, why am I not being treasured and loved? Where is my diamond ring?! Life is certainly not easy. Sigh.

In a rare moment of surprising amicability and unexpected generosity, Mr Fluffy Hubby has succumbed to my sighs for a particular LeSportsac bag (no, it’s not Fifi Lapin towards which I seem to feel only apathy veering towards distaste, strangely enough, considering my love for bunnies). He spontaneously shelled out good money for what I’m sure he finds completely bizarre and maybe even fugly (at least that’s what I know about how he feels about LeSportsac in general).

Me, I love the pink and green (two of my favourite colours), the trees, the birds, and the butterflies… the complete randomness and whimsicality of it. I thought that’s pretty interesting for LeSportsac which usually just repeats patterns in a rather blanch-worthy fashion.

It makes me happy. Looking at the bag and carrying it everyday when I make my school trips trips to and fro with Toffee.

After 2 weeks of intensely frantic shopping for Chinese New Year clothes (during which I threatened Miss.Understood and our friendship countless times), I finally made my ultimate purchase at a little boutique in Bugis on Sunday, with Mr Fluffy Hubby and the baby watching from the side (Miss.Understood has run away from me to Bali).

So… Aunty, can you give me a discount?

Cannot lah… you only buy 1. You buy 2, then got 10% discount on the 2nd item.<

Must buy 2 then got discount?

Yah, buy 2, 10% off the 2nd item.

Orh…

So how, you want to buy 1 more?

Hmm… don’t want lah, I only want to buy this one.

Sales-aunty continues processing the transaction.

So how, aunty? Can give me discount? Can lah…

You must buy 2, then got 10% off 2nd item.

You give me discount now, then I’ll come back to buy 2nd item next time!

Hahaha. Ok, I give you 10% discount.

Thank you, Aunty!

We beam at each other.

PS. When I proudly recounted my bargaining talents to Mr Fluffy Hubby, he widened his eyes slightly in what seemed suspiciously like mild horror. Well, we never know what the new year brings… Auntiehood and then some. Happy Chinese New Year!